Can you build wealth while investing in a better future without sacrificing financial returns? In this episode of Inspired To Invest, Serena Holmes sits down with Claire Smith, a climate fund manager, fintech entrepreneur and impact investor with 40 years of experience in finance and investment. To watch rather than listen, click here. Claire is the founder of Beyond Investing, a humane investment platform that designs cruelty-free investment programs in public equity markets, as well as its venture capital arm, Beyond Impact. After decades in traditional finance, Claire reached a turning point. She realized there was a disconnect between the causes she personally cared about — including sustainability, climate and animal welfare — and the industries that conventional finance helped fund. So she decided to bring her personal values and professional expertise together. Today, Claire is helping reshape the conversation around sustainable investing, ethical investing and impact investing. In this episode, we explore: ✅ Why Claire walked away from traditional finance to pursue sustainable investing ✅ Whether investors really need to sacrifice returns to invest according to their values ✅ Why Claire believes some traditional ESG investing doesn't go far enough ✅ Why her investment screens eliminate roughly 50% of companies in typical market benchmarks ✅ How Beyond Investing approaches ethical and sustainable portfolio construction ✅ Why venture capital could play an important role in creating a more sustainable economy ✅ Emerging opportunities in biotech, nutrition, pharmaceuticals, materials and animal-free technologies ✅ Why cost and product quality — not simply ethics — could accelerate adoption of sustainable alternatives ✅ What launching an investment product really costs behind the scenes ✅ Why resilience has been one of Claire's greatest lessons as an entrepreneur and investor ✅ How family offices, foundations, charities and individual investors are approaching impact investing ✅ Why resource constraints could reshape industries ranging from energy to agriculture ✅ Why Claire believes food could experience a transformation similar to the adoption of electric vehicles Claire's story also challenges a common assumption: that investing according to your values automatically means giving up financial performance. As of early September 2026, Claire shared that her ETF was outperforming its market benchmark over the lifetime of the fund. This conversation isn't simply about sustainable investing. It's about understanding where our money goes, what businesses it supports and whether financial capital can become a tool for creating the future we actually want to live in. Whether you're interested in sustainable investing, ESG investing, ethical investing, venture capital, climate investing, emerging technologies or building wealth with greater intention, this episode will give you plenty to think about. 🔔 If you enjoy conversations about investing, entrepreneurship, wealth and financial freedom, SUBSCRIBE to Inspired To Invest and ring the notification bell so you don't miss an episode. TIMESTAMPS 00:00 – Introduction 03:16 – Meet climate fund manager and impact investor Claire Smith 04:30 – From traditional finance to sustainable investing 06:00 – How money can contribute to environmental problems 07:11 – Investing in sustainable startups and emerging technologies 09:41 – Can sustainable investing deliver competitive returns? 10:54 – Why Claire's investment screens eliminate roughly 50% of the market 13:30 – The challenges and contradictions of traditional ESG investing 14:45 – Claire's biggest lesson: resilience 16:02 – The technologies Claire believes could reshape consumer products 18:00 – The hidden rise of animal-free ingredients and biotechnology 20:00 – What consumers may not realize is inside everyday products 21:41 – The surprising realities of launching investment funds 23:00 – Family offices and investors putting their values behind their capital 24:45 – Resource constraints, sustainability and the future of investing 27:00 – How quickly sustainable technologies could reach mainstream adoption 29:00 – Why authenticity matters in business and investing 29:30 – Claire's proudest achievement and the future of Beyond Investing ➕ Follow Serena Holmes for expert insights on business, branding, real estate, investing, wealth (and more!). I'm on a mission to help others create wealth because "when you invest in yourself, the sky's the limit" 🚀 #SustainableInvesting #ImpactInvesting #EthicalInvesting #ESGInvesting #SustainableFinance ➕ Follow Serena Holmes for all things related to business, entrepreneurship, real estate, investing, wealth (and more!). I'm on a mission to help others create wealth because "when you invest in yourself, the sky's the limit" 🚀 __________________ Attention Real Estate Investors! Raise your first (or next) $1-3 million in the next 90 days without relying on the bank, joint ventures, private lenders or cold calls. Learn more about this proven system! __________________ Want to invest in real estate with all of the security and cash flow of ownership, but none of the landlord headaches? Learn more about SHARE, one of the largest asset management companies in the United States, with a turnkey "done for you" ownership program for investors. Find out more! __________________ Financial Advisors! Let me introduce you to your new secret weapon to help you land new clients, and maintain them for many years to come. Advisor Innovation Lab provides AI powered client intelligence for modern financial advisors to help them become trusted partners through life’s most important transitions. __________________ How would you like to get paid for your opinion?! Sign up with User Interviews & start earning! __________________ 📧 Sign Up For My Monthly ROI Report on LinkedIn! It's loaded with valuable content for buyers, sellers, investors, and homeowners. __________________ 💰 Turn content into connection! At Executive Lens, we curate compelling content to help busy business owners, executives, and investors build powerful personal brands on LinkedIn and beyond. After all, attraction is the ultimate flex! 💫Download our FREE EBOOK - The Ultimate Guide To Building Your Personal Brand On Linked 💫 __________________ 🎙️Want To Be Featured On Podcasts Ranking In The Top 5%? Find Out How You Can Get Featured To Build Your Personal Brand. Find out more about That1💯 __________________ 🚀 CHECK OUT MORE INCREDIBLE CONTENT ON ‘INSPIRED TO INVEST” 🚀 👉🏼YouTube & Instagram __________________ LET’S CONNECT ON SOCIAL MEDIA 💥 → Instagram → LinkedIn → TikTok → Online Serena Holmes is a licensed REALTOR®, real estate investor, real estate investing coach, podcast host, published author and chief content officer of Executive Lens. She is also the former CEO of Tigris Events, a multi award winning brand experience agency. Hosted by Simplecast, an AdsWizz company. See pcm.adswizz.com for information about our collection and use of personal data for advertising.
